Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALDETAM’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDETAM’, particularly characterized by white flowers with purple flecks and white lip with yellow and purple shade, 1 to 2 peduncles, a long and sturdy inflorescence, a narrow obovate leaf shape, and propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALDETAM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDETAM’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow, and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDETAM’ is particularly characterized by its attractive and unique white flowers with purple spots, economical propagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDETAM’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDETAM’ originated from a cross made in August 2008 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a white with purple flecks Phalaenopsis pot plant name ‘01-1758’ (unpatented), while the male parent is a white Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘06285-01’ (unpatented). A single plant was selected in October 2008 and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 5-year period. The new variety has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDETAM’ by meristem tissue culture was first performed in October 2011 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has demonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Jan. 15, 2013. ‘PHALDETAM’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) White flower with purple flecks and white lip with yellow and         purple shade;     -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;     -   3) Inflorescence is long and sturdy;     -   4) The shape of the leaf is narrow obovate; and     -   5) Plants are propagated by tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in March 2013.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage of ‘PHALDETAM’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower of ‘PHALDETAM’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDETAM’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALDETAM’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week old plants which were planted from tissue culture in 12 centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in March 2013. Color readings were taken under 4000 till 6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALDETAM’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1758’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘06285-01’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Plant:     -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48             to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.         -   Growth habit of inflorescence.—Standard type, green leaves             and normal raceme.         -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—65.0 cm to             70.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—40.0 cm to 45.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Grey-green-colored roots with light             branching lateral roots having grey-green-colored root tips. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 5 to 6 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 21.0 cm             to 24.0 cm. Width: 7.0 cm to 8.5 cm. Shape: Narrow obovate.             Apex: Mucronate. Leaf blade angle with the petiole: Between             40 degrees and 70 degrees. Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper             surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 138B. Texture: Smooth.             Thickness: 2.5 mm. Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the             midvein: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 138C. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—14 to 24.         -   Length.—55.0 cm to 65.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 0.6 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Green (RHS 146A) and slightly brown (RHS 200A).         -   Internode length.—60.0 mm to 110.0 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 110.0 mm to             140.0 mm. Diameter: 200.0 mm to 220.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12 cm pot, as mentioned in the             botanical description.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium. Length: 1.9 cm to 2.0 cm.             Width: 17.0 mm to 18.0 mm. Shape: Egg shape. Color             designation: Yellow-green (RHS 150C) with greyed-purple             flecks (RHS 187A).         -   Flower.—Height: 80.0 mm to 90.0 mm. Diameter: 80.0 mm to             90.0 mm. Depth of lip: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 10 to 14 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Mucronate to rounded, slightly asymmetric. Margin: Slightly             undulate. Length: 52.0 mm to 56.0 mm. Width: 36.0 mm to             40.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: White             (RHS 155C) with purple flecks (RHS 79A and 71A). Lower             surface: White (RHS 155C) with purple flecks (RHS 81A)             diluted around the edge of the flecks.         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded to emarginated.             Length: 40.0 mm to 42.0 mm. Width: 33.0 mm to 35.0 mm. Color             (when fully opened): Upper surface: White (RHS 155C) with             purple flecks (RHS 79A and 71A). Lower surface: White (RHS             155C) with purple flecks (RHS 77A) diluted around the edge             of the flecks.         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Length: 32.0 mm             to 34.0 mm. Width: 47.0 mm to 49.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) with             purple flecks (RHS 79A and 71A). Over color: Slightly             yellow-green (RHS 150C/150D) towards the center of the             flower. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) with             purple flecks (RHS 77A) diluted around the edge of the             flecks. Over color: Yellow-green (RHS 145D) on one side             towards the center.         -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire and slightly undulate.             Length: 26.0 mm to 28.0 mm. Width (measured at apical lobe):             18.0 mm to 20.0 mm. Pubescence: Absent. Whiskers: Length:             1.3 cm to 1.5 cm. Color: White (RHS 155C) with yellow tips             (RHS 4D).         -   Lateral lobe.—Length: 2.0 cm to 2.2 cm. Width: 1.1 cm to             1.3 cm. Shape: type V (as described in the International             Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV)             Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate. Color: White             with yellow and purple shade (RHS 155C, 2B, 59A).         -   Apical lobe.—Length: 2.0 cm to 2.2 cm. Width: 1.9 cm to             2.1 cm. Shape: Obdeltoid. Color: White with yellow shade             (RHS 155C, 2B).         -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 0.7 cm. Length:             0.5 cm. Width: 0.4 cm. Color: Dark purple (RHS 79A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present.         -   Column.—Length: 11.0 mm to 12.0 mm. Diameter: 5.5 mm to             6.5 mm. Color: White (RHS 155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 1.4 mm to 1.5 mm. Color: Orange             (RHS 23A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 8.0 mm to 9.0 mm (cutted open). Diameter: 4.5             mm to 5.5 mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 32.0 mm to 38.0 mm. Diameter: 3.0 mm to             4.0 mm. Color: Green (RHS 145B/145C) with greyed-purple             stripe on one side of pedicel towards inflorescence (RHS             187B). -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a     high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALDETAM’ differs from female parent plant ‘01-1758’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALDETAM’ has white whiskers of the lip and a white and yellow apical lobe of the lip, whereas ‘01-1758’ has light purple whiskers of the lip and a yellow and red apical lobe of the lip. Additionally, ‘PHALDETAM’ has open/free petals, whereas ‘01-1758’ has petals that are almost touching to touching.

‘PHALDETAM’ differs from male parent plant ‘06285-01’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALDETAM’ has a dark purple callus, shorter lip whiskers and a flecked flower, whereas ‘06285-01’ has a yellow-orange dotted callus, longer lip whiskers and an even flower. Additionally, ‘PHALDETAM’ has a smaller flower than ‘06285-01’.

‘PHALDETAM’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALDAMWIL’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,444) in that ‘PHALDETAM’ has evenly colored whiskers and apical lobe of the lip, and an even petal margin, whereas ‘PHALDAMWIL’ has dotted whiskers and apical lobe of the lip, and an undulated petal margin. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALDETAM’ as illustrated and described herein. 